United Synagogue Youth

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United Synagogue Youth
Abbreviation USY
Formation 1951[1]
Type Youth Organization
Purpose Religious
Headquarters New York, NY 10017
Location
  • 820 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Region served
North America[2]
Membership
15,000[2]
Director
Rabbi David Levy
President
Ethan Feuer
Main organ
International Executive Board, International General Board, International Youth Commission
Parent organization
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)
Affiliations Conservative Judaism
Website http://www.usy.org/

United Synagogue Youth (USY) is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ).[3] The goal of the movement is to bring Jewish teenagers closer to Judaism and Israel through learning and social interaction. The organization was founded in 1951, under the auspices of the Youth Commission of what was then the United Synagogue of America.[1]

USY operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Uganda, spanning 300 chapters. It is estimated that there are between ten and twenty thousand USY members - known as USYers - as of January, 2014. Kadima (Hebrew for "Forward"), the pre-USY program has a membership estimated to be approximately five thousand. USY is available to Jewish high school students, and Kadima is available to Jewish kids in grades 6th-8th, and even 3rd-5th in some locations.

Food served at USY programs is kosher and the organization is Shabbat-observant. USY holds daily services, performing them with ruach, or spirit, expressed through singing and dancing.

History

In 1948, Beth El synagogue in St. Louis Park, Minnesota started the first USY chapter. Its purpose was to provide for the social and spiritual needs of its teens. Soon, other synagogues began following suit. In 1951, USY became formalized nationally and held its charter convention, which brought together over a thousand USYers. In the few years that followed, almost all of the modern regions became shaped.

In 1961, USY launched its inaugural USY on Wheels summer bus tour across the U.S.

In 1964, Kadima was officially created as a separate entity for pre-USY-age kids, who would go on to join the high-school age USY program.

In 1979, USY established the Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society. Named in honor of prominent rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, the Honor Society would further encourage USYers to learn more about Judaism and the observance of Mitzvot.

In 2010, USY and NOAM Olami began their joint biannual leadership conferences.

In 2011, attendees to the International Convention in Philadelphia set the Guinness World Record for the most dreidels spinning simultaneously.[4]

In 2014, USY launched the USY Mission to Cuba and TivnUSY summer programs.

Structure

USY has three main levels of entry into the organization, the chapter level, the regional level, and the international level. The larger HaNegev and METNY regions are also split into sub-regions and divisions, respectively.

Chapter

The chapter is the most basic organizational level of USY. The chapter primarily provides social programming and periodically provides religious, educational, and community service-based programming. Social programming ranges from lounges and movie nights to pool parties and paintballing. Religious, educational, and community service-based programming includes mock-seders, Israel education, and volunteering at a local soup kitchen. All programming is planned by the Chapter Board with the assistance of a professional advisor. Typically, a given chapter's name is an acronym of the synagogue or city in which the chapter is based followed by the letters "USY". For example, the "Moriah Congregation in Deerfield" chapter is shortened to "MCDUSY". Chapters are associated with a USCJ-affiliated synagogue. There are an estimated 300 chapters.

Regional

Regions consist of chapters in the same geographical area. Chapters gather for bi-monthly, quarterly, and annual regional events, such as weekend-long kinnusim and conventions, and week-long encampments. Because regions are larger than chapters, regions may provide such programs not possible at the chapter level. There are 17 USY regions.

Sub-Regional/Divisional

Larger USY regions are occasionally split into sub-regions or divisions. The sub-regions and divisions act much like regions, overseeing their respective chapters, and holding their own conventions and elections. Currently, there are two regions, HaNegev and METNY, with sub-regions or divisions. HaNegev's sub-regions are each led by a three-person executive board, and METNY's divisions are each led by a six-person executive board. HaNegev's three sub-regions are Arvot (South Florida), Mercaz (North and Central Florida), and Ein Gedi (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina). METNY's three (previously four) divisions are Emek (Hudson Valley), Sababa (Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn), and Ruach (Long Island).

International

On the International level, USYers from all over North America and Canada come together for weekend-long kinnusim, International Convention, and summer programs. The International Board is composed of the 6-person Executive board and their committees. These boards are elected at the International Convention, which takes place every December, and the members serve for 1 calendar year, unlike chapter and regional boards which are elected in mid to late Spring and serve through an academic year.

Programs

In addition to chapter, regional, and international events, USY provides a host of supplementary trips. The trips range in duration from anywhere between a week to a year, and in geography from North America to Israel and Europe.

Summer Programs

USY runs simultaneous four-to-seven-week summer programs across North America and Europe. The trips through Europe culminate in Israel.

USY on Wheels is a six-week bus tour throughout the continental United States, Canada, and Alaska. Participants have the opportunity to spend the summer touring over 30 states and visiting America's greatest landmarks, including the Grand Canyon and Pier 39, as well as the countries most obscure destinations, such as the Corn Palace and an alpaca farm. The program's goal is giving teens the opportunity to understand what it means to be a Jew no matter where you go. Participants stay in both hotels and home hospitality. Participants keep Kosher and celebrate Shabbat and other Jewish holidays throughout the summer. Other options include a community-service-focused trip (Mission Mitzvah), a four-week east coast trip (Wheels East), a four week west coast trip (Wheels West), and a two-week trip visiting colleges in the Northeast (Campus Edition). Additionally, Pacific Northwest is three-week trip that includes two-weeks on the West Coast and a one-week Alaskan cruise, and USY Mission to Cuba is a one-week trip in Cuba, particularly Havana. All trips include a mix of grades.

USY's trips to Israel, USY Israel Pilgrimage, consist of an optional week in Italy, Poland, or Eastern Europe followed by a month in Israel, learning about Jewish communities and the Shoah. The month in Israel has one of three different focuses: tourism, social action, or IDF simulation in Gadna. Pilgrimage trips visit every major city and region, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias, Beersheba, and Eilat. In addition to city life, the program incorporates many hiking opportunities and outdoor experiences, in areas including the Golan Heights, the Jordan River, the Galilee the Mediterranean Sea, Masada, the Dead Sea, the Negev, the Red Sea, and archaeological digs of ancient Jewish civilization, all led by professional tour guides.

International Convention

USYers sing Oseh Shalom during a Shacharit service at IC 2014

International Convention (IC) is USY's largest gathering that is held annually during the winter school vacation season for five consecutive days. The Convention includes regional delegations totaling approximately 700 teenagers ages 14 –18, plus an additional 150 staff members. The location changes from year to year, covering several USY regions over a period of a few years.

The 2016 International Convention will be held in Dallas, Texas (SWUSY Region) on December 25-29, 2016. During the week of the Convention, USYers participate in community service, leadership, religious, educational, cultural, and social programming.

Past International Conventions have been hosted in Baltimore, Atlanta, New Orleans, Boston, Philadelphia, Orlando, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Anaheim, Toronto, and San Jose, East Brunswick, Irvine, Tampa, Cherry Hill, Arlington, Los Angeles, Rye, Buffalo, New York City, St. Louis, among many other cities.[5]

High School Program

USY High is an eight-week program in Israel Goldstein Youth Village in Jerusalem for juniors and seniors to study while exploring Israel. In the campus classroom, participants are introduced chronologically to each historical period. Campus class time is interspersed with time experiencing the "classroom without walls" - the Land of Israel. Participants learn in an ancient cave, a mountain fortress, an army bunker, riding on a camel, or at the beach.

USY High is the sister program of Tichon Ramah Yerushalaim (TRY), a program of Ramah. TRY is seventeen weeks long and is for sophomores and juniors.[6]

College Program

The Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel is a post-high-school gap year program that draws a lot of its participants from USY and whose alumni often become USY staff. Nativ's mission is to create and inspire the Conservative Jewish leaders of tomorrow. Nativ, which means “path” in Hebrew, aims to provide a unique opportunity to explore new directions on the journey to becoming a Jewish adult. From September to May, Nativ participants are immersed in Israeli society and a Conservative Jewish lifestyle.

Nativ is split into two semesters: one in Jerusalem and one in a youth or immigration village. The program includes academic university classes, intensive Hebrew classes, Judaic and Yeshiva studies, and leadership training workshops. The program enables recent high school graduates to earn college credits for their studies while on the gap year program.

Interest Clubs

USY offers three interest clubs for USY members, the Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society, HeChalutzim, and the 613 Mitzvah Corps.

Abraham Joshua Heschel Honor Society

The Heschel Honor Society is a club for USY members of secular and religious academic excellence. The club is named after prominent theologian and activist Abraham Joshua Heschel. Members meet during regional conventions to discuss topics that Heschel wrote about. The Heschel Honor society holds an annual three-day, text-focused convention every March.

HeChalutzim

HeChalutzim (Hebrew for "the pioneers") is a club for USY members interested in Israel affairs and Religious Zionism. Members of HeChalutzim convene for regional weekends and special programs. In addition, a delegate from each region is sent to Israel with the Hechalutzim Israel Seminar.

613 Mitzvah Corps

The 613 Mitzvah Corps is the Social Action and Tikun Olam club within USY. The goal of the club is to provide members with the tools to take action, and to help raise funds for causes meaningful to members. Membership in the 613 Mitzvah Corps costs $6.13 and must be renewed each academic year.

List of Regions

Name of region Details of name Areas covered President
CHUSY Chicago USY Northern Illinois, Milwaukee, and Madison Joey Spellberg
CRUSY Central Region USY Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia Hannah Borow
ECRUSY Eastern Canadian Region USY Southern Ontario, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Richmond Hill, and Ottawa Breanne Bornstein
EMTZA USY Hebrew: אמצע, "Middle" Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Western Wisconsin, and Manitoba Noa Rose
EPA USY Eastern Pennsylvania USY Eastern and Northern Pennsylvania from Harrisburg to Scranton Rachel Brynien
Far West USY Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Utah Sam Weiss
Hagalil USY Hebrew: הגליל, "The Galilee" Northern and Central New Jersey Shelly Tsirulik
Hagesher USY Hebrew: הגשר, "The bridge" Philadelphia, Main Line, Bryn Mawr, Bucks County and Southern New Jersey Bennett Decker
Hanefesh USY Hebrew: הנפש, "The soul" Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Michael Stambler
HaNegev USY (Sub-Regions: Arvot, Mercaz, Ein Gedi) Hebrew: הנגב, "The Negev" Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Southern North Carolina, South Carolina, Barbados, and Puerto Rico. Robyn Kast
METNY USY (Divisions: Emek, Sababa, Ruach) Metropolitan New York USY Greater New York City and Long Island Ethan Feuer
NERUSY New England Region USY Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine Harrison Steier
New Frontier USY Northern California, and Reno Orr Toledano
Pinwheel USY Pacific Northwest USY Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and Alaska Sam Sherer
Seaboard USY Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Northeastern North Carolina Hannah Smith
SWUSY Southwest USY Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mexico Rachel Shapiro
Tzafon USY Hebrew: צפון, "North" Upstate New York, and Southwestern Vermont Avi Presberg

Leadership

USY stresses youth leadership involvement on all levels of the organization, to help further empower members in their Jewish journeys. USY holds regional and international board weekends to help train new leaders in their positions. Positions may be obtained by election or by appointment. Regional and international board members are expected to maintain a level of Jewish observance.

In addition to serving on chapter, regional, and/or international boards, select USYers may be nominated to attend conferences in various countries, including Israel and the UK, to learn about the Conservative/Masorti movement around the world, and to strengthen cooperation with sister youth organizations.

Regional Executive Board

Each region has a Regional Executive Board (REB), which serves as the region's cabinet, tending to its region's needs across the year. An REB typically consists of a President, and five Vice Presidents: Israel Affairs VP, Religion/Education VP, Social Action/Tikun Olam VP, Membership/Kadima VP, and Communications VP. Some regions incorporate an Executive Vice President and/or Parliamentarian position. In regions that have Divisional or Sub-Regional Presidents, Divisional or Sub-Regional Presidents are automatically granted REB member status.

International Executive Board

On December 30, 2015, International USY Voting Delegates at the 65th USY International Convention voted the following 6 members onto the 2016 International Executive Board (IEB) into office:[7]

  • President - Ethan Feuer (METNY)
  • Israel Affairs Vice President - Danu Rojzman (HaNegev)
  • Religion/Education Vice President - Cara Kupferman (METNY)
  • Social Action/Tikun Olam Vice President - Hannah Weiss (HaNegev)
  • Membership/Kadima Vice President - Eric Wertheim (METNY)
  • Communications Vice President - Louis Popkin (Seaboard)

International General Board

The International General Board (IGB) is a group of committee members selected and appointed by the International Executive Board.[8] The 2015 IGB was as follows:

International Convention Co-Chairs

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  • Aaron Albuck - Hagesher
  • Samara Wyant - CRUSY

Israel Affairs

  • Nathan Bishop - SWUSY
  • Daniela Rojzman - HaNegev
  • Noa Rose - EMTZA
  • Liat Wasserman - CHUSY

Summer Program Outreach Chairs

  • Adina Barg - EMTZA
  • David Rosenstein - METNY

Religion/Education

  • Evan Chansky - NERUSY
  • Cara Kupferman - METNY
  • Evan Shaw - CRUSY
  • Arielle Yacker - Hagesher

Social Action/Tikun Olam

  • Jessie Goldberg - EMTZA
  • Jenny Gurev - New Frontier
  • Sophie Sigel - Far West
  • Hannah Smith - Seaboard
  • Val Weisler - METNY

Membership/Kadima

  • Sami Ronik - HaNegev
  • Shelly Tsirulik - Hagalil
  • Josh Zucker - CHUSY

Communications

  • Eric Bornstein - NERUSY
  • Ben Shapiro - Far West
  • Ilana Weinstein - EMTZA

The 2016 IGB has yet to be chosen.

Famous Alumni

USY has produced over 250,000 alumni, many of which have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, rabbis, synagogue presidents, and Jewish educators.[9]

See also

  • Kadima - the pre-high-school program of USY
  • Camp Ramah - a network of Conservative Jewish summer camps across North America and Israel
  • Nativ - the post-high-school gap year program operated by USCJ
  • United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism - the organization of Conservative Jewish synagogues in North America
  • Koach - a now-defunct, college campus organization affiliated with Conservative Judaism
  • Conservative Judaism - a leading modern denomination of Judaism
  • Judaism - the religion of the Jewish people

References

External links